Restaurant News

On five Mondays beginning January 21, Stage Left, 5 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, will offer a series of wine classes, with a different region featured each week. The classes will include lectures and discussions, and students will sample wines in order to judge their appearance, aroma, taste, and finish. 7 to 9 PM; $695. For reservations call 732-828-4444.

The Gladstone Tavern, 273 Main Street, Gladstone, was originally built in 1847 as a farmhouse. Since then it has been a hotel stop on the stagecoach route to Morristown (in the early 1900s), a meeting hall, a rooming house, and, of course, a restaurant. Tom Carlin, chef/owner since June 2006, provides a lovely space where he offers American fare such as lobster mac and cheese, cod baked in parchment, short ribs braised in red wine with horseradish mashed potatoes, and a smoked double-cut pork chop. Everything is made from scratch, and many of the dishes are based on Carlin’s family recipes. A bar menu is available (try the tavern sliders), and an upstairs room can be used for private parties of up to 48 people. When dining, take note of the pictures decorating the walls, which are charming reproductions from a children’s book. For reservations call 908-234-9055.

CUPCAKE LOVERS’ ALERT

We all love cupcakes, and now we can send them as a gift. The Petite Cafe and Catering, 503 Franklin Avenue, Nutley, has a Cupcakes of the Month Club in which a dozen treats are sent to the lucky recipient each month. Three-, six-, and twelve-month plans are available. For more information call 973-667-7778.

WINE DINNER AT RESTAURANT.MC

On January 20, a five-course wine dinner sponsored by Kings Cooking Studio will be held at restaurant.mc, 57 Main Street, Millburn. 6 to 9 PM; $95 including tax and gratuity. For reservations call 973-463-6500.